SMU secures former MLB prospect Jordyn Adams for football program
Adams, a 2018 five-star recruit ranked ahead of current NFL stars, joins the Mustangs as the NCAA debates eligibility reforms.
Southern Methodist University has signed former Major League Baseball player Jordyn Adams to a football scholarship, confirming his enrollment and intention to join the Mustangs program. The 26-year-old athlete, who spent the better part of eight years in professional baseball, marks a significant addition to the university’s roster as he transitions back to the gridiron.
Adams was a highly regarded prospect in the 2018 recruiting cycle, ranked as the No. 3 wide receiver nationally by 247Sports and the No. 14 overall prospect in his class. He was the first high school recruit ranked ahead of future National Football League stars Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ja’Marr Chase. Originally committed to the University of North Carolina, Adams forewent that initial agreement after being selected 17th overall by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2018 MLB Draft.
The selection came with a contract valued at more than $3 million, launching a professional baseball career that spanned from 2018 until May 2026. Adams made his major league debut in 2023, appearing in 38 total games across stints with the Angels, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Milwaukee Brewers. His professional statistics include 13 hits, six runs, one home run, and five runs batted in, accumulated after climbing through the Angels’ farm system and playing 678 minor league games.
His baseball career concluded in May 2026, with his final appearance occurring on May 20 while playing for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Rather than pursue further opportunities in professional baseball, Adams elected to revisit the sport that originally defined his athletic profile. He attended Green Hope High School in Cary, North Carolina, before his professional trajectory diverged from his initial college football plans.
Adams’ eligibility is currently under review as the NCAA debates structural changes to athlete participation. Division I leaders recently discussed an age-based "five-for-five" model, which would grant athletes five years to compete starting from high school graduation or their 19th birthday. Adams’ situation differs from traditional cases as he never enrolled at North Carolina after signing with the Angels, placing him in a unique category alongside other former professional baseball players who have transitioned to college football, such as Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke and Brandon Weeden.
